Container forming and filling apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and method are provided for continuously forming containers of plastic sheet material and filling same as they are formed, thereby eliminating the need to rehandle formed containers to effect their filling. In one form, two sheets of weldable polymeric material or metal are continuously fed together from respective roll supply thereof, are edge seamed and welded together to form continuous pockets between each of which is fed an intermittent supply of material to form the contents of the pockets. In another form, the sheets are continuously formed by one or more extruders and fed together where they are formed into pockets with each pocket being closed after a predetermined quantity of contents are delivered between the two sheets. If extruded continuously, the sheets are preferably fed downwardly together while fluent material is intermittently disposed therebetween after each previous pocket is sealed and disposed below the newly formed but open pocket.

United States Patent [191 Lemelson Sept. 3, 1974 [76] Inventor: JeromeH. Lemelson, 85 Rector St.,

Metuchen, NJ. 08840 [22] Filed: July 10, 1972 [2]] Appl. No.: 269,926

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No.696,966, Dec. 18, 1967, Pat. No. 3,676,249, which is acontinuation-in-part of Ser. No. 269,832, March 22, 1963, abandoned,which is a continuation of Ser. No. 651,749, April 9, 1957, abandoned.

[52] US. Cl. 53/111 R, 53/21 R, 53/140 [51] Int. Cl B65!) 55/08, B65b9/10, B65b 9/04 [58] Field of Search 53/25, 28, 111 R, 111 RC, 53/127,140, 180, 21 R; 21/54 R, 102 R;

Rainer et a1. 156/272 Sloan et al 53/140 X Primary Examiner-Robert L.Spruill [5 7] ABSTRACT An apparatus and method are provided forcontinuously forming containers of plastic sheet material and fillingsame as they are formed, thereby eliminating the need to rehandle formedcontainers to effect their filling. In one form, two sheets of weldablepolymeric material or metal are continuously fed together fromrespective roll supply thereof, are edge seamed and welded together toform continuous pockets between each of which is fed an intermittentsupply of material to form the contents of the pockets. In another form,the sheets are continuously formed by one or more extruders and fedtogether where they are formed into pockets with each pocket beingclosed after a predetermined quantity of contents are delivered betweenthe two sheets. If extruded continuously, the sheets are preferably feddownwardly together while fluent material is intermittently disposedtherebetween after each previous pocket is sealed and disposed below thenewly formed but open pocket.

9 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures CONTAINER FORMING AND FILLING APPARATUSRELATED APPLICATIONS This is a continuation-in-part of applicationSer..No. 696,966 filed Dec. 18, i967 now US. Pat. No. 3,676,249, forIrradiation Apparatus and Method which was a continuation-in-part ofSer. No. 269,832 filed Mar. 22, 1963, now abandoned, and having as aparent application Ser. No. 651,749 filed Apr. 9, 1957, also abandoned.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an apparatus andmethod for forming and filling packaging of sheet materials immediatelyafter the formation of said sheet materials so as to eliminate the needfor specially winding or packaging the sheet materials and rehandlingsame during the package forming and filling operations.

The conventional technique for forming and filling packaging of sheetmaterials such as plastic film is to first form such sheet material,wind it onto a roll, handle and store the roll of sheet, rehandle it andproperly place it on a feed means to a packaging machine, guide and feedthe sheet material through input feed rolls to the packaging station,seal and in certain instances form the sheet material into pockets orcontainers thereafter fill each pocket or container with contents andthen seal the filled container or pocket to retain the contents therein.This rather length procedure is extremely time consuming and costly. Theinstant invention relates to a new and improved apparatus which isoperable to eliminate a number of the aforedescribed steps in formingpackaging of sheet and plastic film which may be extrusion formed toshape. Apparatus for forming and filling packaging of sheet materialimmediately after the sheet is formed, is provided in line with theextrusion sheet forming apparatus and is synchronized in its operationto properly receive, seal and form containers thereof and fill suchcontainers without the need to wind the plastic sheet onto a roll,rehandle and rewind same in the packaging machine. By eliminating anumber of handling and winding operations, considerable savings inhandling and labor are possible.

Accordingly it is a primary object of this invention to provide a newand improved apparatus and method for forming and filling packaging witha variety of products.

Another object is to provide an apparatus and method for forming andfilling containers of plastic sheet material immediately after extrusionforming the sheet material while the sheet material is in a thermallydeformable condition.

Another object is to provide a plastic package formments of parts aswill be more fully described and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, but it is to be understood that changes, variations andmodifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of theinvention as claimed.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a schematic diagram showing apparatus forcontinuously forming and processing packaged materials in accordancewith the teachings of the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view showing an apparatus for continuously formingcomposite materials by laminating and further processing same on anautomatic basis;

- FIG. 3 is a side view of a modified form of a protion of the apparatusof FIG. 2 and FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of a material produced bymeans of the apparatus of FIG. 2. FIG. 5 shows a modified form of theapparatus of FIG. 1.

There is shown in FIG. 1 an apparatus 10 for continuously formingcontainers of sheet material, filling said containers with a product tobe further processed and later dispensed therefrom. The apparatus 10includes an intermittently operated filling machine, the filling ingapparatus and method employing a sheet extruder to supply plastic sheetfor the packages or containers formed thereby so as to eliminate theneed to provide coiled rolls of sheet material and to stop operation ofthe apparatus each time a roll of material is used up.

Another object is to provide an apparatus and method for formingcomposite material of a plurality of materials including at least one ofwhich is freshly extruded.

With the above and such other objects in view as may hereafter morefully appear. the invention consists of the novel constructions,combinations and arrangehead 11 of which is shown as having a dispensingend or nozzle 12 disposed vertically in a line with and above acontainer forming means to be described and operative to dispensepredetermined quantities of a liquid or fluent material 13 which iscontrollably flowed or dropped from the end of the nozzle or hopper 12.

Provided at the sides of the filling head 11 are respective supply means14 and 15 for sheet materials 16 and 17 which are downwardly fedtherefrom at a controlled rate so as to converge towards each other andform respective walls of an elongated tube or envelope for containingthe materials 13 fed from the dispensing or filling head 11. Supplymeans 14 and 15 may each comprise a separate extrusion machine which iscontrollably operated to feed polymeric thermoplastic material torespective sheeting dies to form the sheets 16 and 17. Sheet 16 is fedto the upper surface of a belt 19 forming part of an endless beltconveyor 18 and supported on a frame (not shown) for guiding the sheet16 downwardly and towards a vertical axis passing through the dischargeend of the nozzle 12. Endless conveyor 18 has a plurality of rolls ordrums 20 and 21 at least one of which is power rotated at a controlledspeed by a suitable motor (not shown) to carry the sheet 16 atsubstantially the rate at which it is formed or fed from supply means14. Similarly, sheet 17 is fed from an extruder 15 or other suitablesheet supply means onto the upper surface of an endless belt23 which isdriven about drums 24 and 25, one of which is power rotated to conveythe belt 23 at substantially the lineal speed at which sheet 17 is fedfrom machine 15.

Drums 21 and 25 are located to cause the sheets 16 and 17 to bepositioned either close to each other or to have the border portions ofsaid sheets in abutment with each other while the center portions of thesheets are held sufficiently apart from each other to permit the fluidor fluent material 13 to pass therebetween into the tubular formationdefined by the two sheets 16 and 17. Accordingly, the belts 19 and 23may either be concavely formed against concave center portions of thedrums 21 and 25 to provide said separation between the central portionsof sheets 16 and 17 or the drums 21 and 25 may be suitably separatedwhile respective tiers of sealing or welding wheels, (not shown) at theends of said drums and rotated with the drums, engage and weld therespective borders of the sheets 16 and 17 together to form a tube whichis closed at its sides. No.- tations 26 and 27 refer to auxiliary meansfor side seaming or guiding the assembly of sheets 16 and 17 as they arefed downwardly while notations 26' and 27 refer to guide rolls for theside seamed sheets.

Located below the wheels or drums 26 and 27 is a line welding fixture 29which is operative to engage selected portions of the sheet assembly 28and effect lateral weld lines completely across the assembly so as toform separate pockets of thesheet assembly each of i which pockets ispreferably filled with a predetermined quantity of material to bedispensed therefrom. The welding fixture 29 includes a lineal actuator29' having its output shaft 30 connected to a bar sealing die 31 whichis operative to advance against the sheet assembly to compress sameagainstthe stationary bar, die or platen 32 located adjacent the otherside of the sheet assembly. When so projected, a line seal may beeffected across the envelope by means of heat applied to at least one ofthe dies, radio frequency energy generated across the dies aselectrodes, ultrasonic energy applied to the dies which serve asultrasonic welding means or other suitable welding means.

The welding operation'is preferably synchronized ,to the fillingoperation by means .of a multi-circuit, selfrecycling timer orcontroller operative to control the servo 30 advancing and retractingdie 31 as wellas the means for energizing said die and the servomotor'or solenoid (not shown) which controls a pump or valve which isoperative to effect the discharge or release of a predetermined quantityof material from nozzle 12 between the sheets 16 and 17 after a weld hasbeen effected or the dies 31 and 32 have clampingly engaged the sideseamed sheets forming assembly 28 below the filling head so as torestrict the downward flow of material to be contained in the pocketformed above the weld. I

Each pocketed portion 28 of the envelope is thereafter conveyed ,bydriving the elongated continuously formed, welded and filled member 28around a plurality of guide wheels or drums 33 to 40 in the pathillustrated which winds back and forth for a predetermined height so asto align portions of the elongated envelope with each other. By windingsaid envelope in a manner such as illustrated in F IG. 1, asingle source43 of penetrating radiation R may be directed so as to simultaneouslypass through'all of the loopso'f the reversed windings of the envelopeand thereby simultaneously irradiate and effect a plurality'ofportionsof said elongated envelope. The radiation source 42 is shown disposed atthe top'of the array of loops of the envelope and directing its intenseradiation downwardly through said plurality of loops. By adjusting theapparatus of FIG. 1 to form, fill and drive the envelope at apredeterminedlinealspeed and by either controlling the intensity ofradiationor providing itat a predetermined level, predeterminedchangesmay be effected not only in the material held in each pocket ofthe envelope but the envelope material may also be predeterminatelychanged in physical characteristics such as by cross linking the polymerthereof; In other words, such predetermined changes in both the contentsof 'the envelope and the material of its walls may be effected bysubjecting the envelope and its contents to the, intense radiation aplurality of times during which it winds forward and in reverse alongitszig-zag or somewhat sinuous'path of travel'through the radiationfield.

At the end of the path defining the final loop of travel of the assembly28, each envelope passes over a drum 44 and downwardly towards anoutflow conveyor 48. Disposed aligned with the envelope is a cuttingfixture 45 including a solenoid 46 operating a cutting blade 47 whichadvances across the envelope preferably at the laterally extending weldline and against a stationary blade or platen 49 which cooperates withthe blade in severing individual pocketed envelope portions from themain elongated formation 28. A photoelectric detector 43 is provided toscan the pocketed assembly 28 at the cutting station and to detecteither marks provided along the border of the sheet assembly 28 whichindicate the locations of the lateral weld lines or to detect said weldlines and to effect the operation of the cutting fixture to cutindividual sealed pouches from the main formation 28 which fall onto theconveyor 50 and are carried away to be boxed or otherwise handledthereafter. 7

e As stated, the material 13 which is fed between sheets 16 and 17 to beenveloped or packaged in the pocket formations formed thereof, may beliquid, particulate, and/or otherwise shaped solid material which is socontrolled in its flow or discharge from the filling head 11 as toprovide a predetermined amount in each pocket or envelope formation 28'.Said material may comprise a food or drug which is to be sterilized orotherwise affected by the intense radiation which is passed through thewalls of the envelope or container portion as it is conveyed through theradiation field. The apparatus 10 may also include means for evacuatingair from the envelope if it is to be only partially filled by itsproduct contents or to include therewith an inert gas, liquid or othermaterial adapted to displace or remove oxygen from the volume definedwithin the envelope when sealing' lines are disposed across the upperand lower ends of the portion defining the envelope.

The described power operated means including filling material feed means11, the extruders l4 and 15, the feed conveyors 19 and 22, the marginalsealing or welding dies 27, 26, the transport rolls or conveyor for thefilled, pocketed sheet 28, the radiation generator 42, the cutting means45 and the conveyor 48 for cut, filled and irradiated packages orenvelopes 28' may all be 'operated'by servo devices such as motors orother variable means which are either automatically controlled per se orcontrolled by a master controller such as a multi-circuit timer orprocess computer. One or more transducerssuch as photoelectric cellsoperative to scan contents of the pocketed envelope portions of thecomposite material 28 or marks printed at predetermined intervals alongthe border of said material may be used to provide feedback signals forcontrolling such variables as extrusion rate for the sheets 16 and 17,speed of the belts of conveyors l9 and '22, rotation of welding dies 26,27, operation of transverse welding dies 30 and 32 and cutoff.

If a single computer or programmable controller is used to control theapparatus of FIG. 1 by predeterminately controlling operation of thevariable devices thereof, then as the requirements for the packaging ofdifferent quantities of material 13 or the material varies incomposition, variable such as rate of flow of said material, timedcutoff thereof, conveyor and welding die tensisity may bepredeterminately controlled by said controller.

FIG. 2 illustrates an apparatus for continuously forming and operatingon a laminate made of two or more materials such as a base sheet and areinforcing means therefore. In particular, the apparatus of FIG. 2 maybe utilized for fabricating filament reinforced sheet or tape such astape used in strapping or for winding purposes.

The apparatus 50 includes a first supply means 51 for a reinforcingmaterial 52 which is shown disposed between two other supply means 53and 55 each of which continuously supply respective sheet materials 54and 56 which are fed downwardly therefrom towards the downwardly feedingreinforcing material 52. The supply means 51, 53 and 55 may eachcomprise a respective extruder for continuously extrusion forming theirmaterials or one or more of the devices may comprise means for otherwiseproviding its material such as a spirally wound coil formation thereofand suitable means for feeding and guiding the material therefrom.Reinforcing material 52 may comprise a single sheet or strip or aplurality of filaments or wires of glass, ceramic, metal or polymericmaterial which are fed in parallel array downwardly and of a width suchas to cover substantially the width of the sheet members 54 and 56.Endless belt conveyors 57 and 58 respectively guide sheets 54 and 56into abutment with the reinforcing member 52 and, in certain instances,with each other so as to encapsulate member 52 therebetween.

Power driven falls 59 and 60 operate to receive and compress the sheetmembers 54 and 56 against the central element of filaments 52 in amanner to completely encapsulate same between said sheets and to weldthe sheets together as they are fedtherethrough. The composite formation61 may comprise a single sheet or ribbon of polymeric material which isinternally reinforced with a plurality of filaments, whiskers or wiresextending through the central portion thereof in a direction parallel tothe longitudinal axis of member 61. The elongated formation 61 isthereafter power driven back and forth around a plurality of rolls 63 to68 to cause said formation to loop back and forth a number of times inalignment with a device 69 for generating high energy radiation asdescribed and directing same through the looped formation to intersectdifferent portions of member 61 as it travels back and forth between therollers.

Radiation generating means 69 may be similar to the generating means 42of FIG. 1 and may comprise a Van DeGraff generator, an atomic pile orother suitable source of atomic fission or an electric glow dischargemeans operating at high frequency and high voltage glow dischargedirectly in alignment with one or a plurality of the loops of thecomposite material 61.

Radiation from the high intensity radiation generator or source 69 is ofsuch a characteristic and is operative to irradiate a sufficient area orareas of the composite material 61 during its travel through the fieldthereof such that a desired and predetermined degree of cross linking ofthe cross linkable portion of the composite material is obtained. Inother words, by providing a source or sources of radiation ofpredetermined intensity, locating said radiation source or sources so asto irradiate a predetermined effective length of the continuously fedcomposite material, supplying the components 52, 54 and 56 at such arate of flow that the composite formation 61 travels through theradiation field at a rate to effect the exposure of any unit areathereof to a predetermined quantity of radiation dosage such thatpredetermined changes or degree of cross linking occur in the compositematerial by the time it has been completely irradiated. The end effectmay be such as to convert, for example, a theremoplastic polymer such aspolyethylene comprising sheet members 54 and 56 from a relatively softmaterial having a low melting point to a cross linked material ofsubstantially greater rigidity, strength and higher melting point. Thereinforcing material 52 which is fed between sheet members 54 and 56 mayor may not be also improved in physical and chemical characteristics bythe action of the intense radiation. If the reinforcing material 52comprises, for example, a plurality of extruded filaments or nettingmade of a cross linkable plastic polymer, it too may be substantiallyenhanced in strength and rigidity. If it comprises glass filaments orfibers fed between sheets 54 and 56 and encapsulated therein bycompression of said sheets to completely surround said filaments andbecome welded together, then the radiation may be such as to improve thebond not only between sheets 54 and 56 but also between the material ofsaid sheets and the filaments 52 so as-to provide a substantiallyimproved end product.

Also illustrated in FIG. 2 are means for coating an adhesive on at leastone surface of the composite sheet member 61 which comprises a pair ofrolls 70 and 71 one of which is power rotated and operative to receivethe irradiated sheet 61 and apply suitable pressuresensitive adhesiveto, for example, the upper surface thereof from a supply reservoir 72 ofsaid adhesive. The member 61 may be slitted into separate filamentswhich are immediately coiled into rolls for dispensing as filamentreinforced adhesive tape or may be further processed or coiled beforeslitting. Notations 73 and 74 refer to cooperating cutting blades whichare predeterminately operated to cut predetermined lengths of sheet 61from the main sheet.

It is noted that the apparatus 50 of FIG. 2 which includes thecontinuous supply means or extrusion heads 51, 53 and 55 forcontinuously fabricating an elongated composite member such as a sheetwhich is internally reinforced with a plurality of filaments or netting,may be provided per se or in combination with a similar array ofextrusion heads at the head of a packaging machine such as the oneillustrated in FIG. 1 to supply one or more reinforcing sheets ofmaterial to define the walls of containers or bags which arecontinuously formed as described. In other words, sheets 16 and 17 ofFIG. 1 and the means for supplying same to the envelope forrningapparatus of FIG. 1 may be replaced by a plurality of sheets such asreinforced sheet 61 of FIG. 2 and means for continuously forming andsupplying same as defined in FIG. 2. The apparatus .of FIG. 1 may alsobe modified whereby a single extrusion such as a sheet of thermoplasticpolymer is continuously formed as described, fed downwardly, folded andthe free edges thereof welded together to form an elongated tube andthereafter laterally line or band welded to form individual envelopeswhich are filled as described.

It is also noted that the laminating means illustrated in FIG. 2 may bemodified whereby a single sheet of thermoplastic polymer such as sheet54 is continuously formed and fed downwardly as described into abutmentwith a plurality of reinforcing filaments or netting such as 52 whichare also continuously feddownwardly and both formations are thereaftercompressed, together by the bite of a plurality of rolls or belts whichare operative to force the filaments or netting into the surface of theextrusion softened sheet to form an integral assembly and-bond betweenthe two prior to the irradiatingor container formation thereof.

, FIG. 3 illustrates means for irradiating a sheet of material such asthe composite material 61 produced as in FIG. 2. A suitable sheet of anymaterial to be predeterminately irradiated to effect, for example, crosslinking of one or more components thereof is fed to a core member ordrum 76 upon which the sheet is wound for storage thereafter prior todispensing same. The member 61 may be a strap, tape, ribbon or band withor without an adhesive coating applied thereto as described. a 1

lnFlG. 3, irradiation processing of the material 61 is effected as it iswound onto its core or drum 76 by means of a suitable winding means (notshown) which is preferably operative at constant speed. A source 69' ofintense radiation such as. a Van DeGraff generator, quantity ofradioactive material, cathode ray tube or other suitable radiationgenerating means, is disposed to direct radiation of predeterminedintensity against and through the outer layer or ply of the windingmaterial thereafter through the subsequent turns of the coil formation61 during the entire winding operation. In one form of this embodimentof the invention, the radiation emitted by'the generator 69 is generatedat a constant intensity and the desired degree of cross linking or otherradiation effect is attained by subjecting the winding coil formationsto a radiation dosage of such an intensity as to provide substantiallythe entire length of the winding material in the desired physicalcondition by thetime winding is completed or shortly thereafter. Theshielding effected by each layer or turn of the winding material 61 forpreviously wound turns may be such that substantially constant radiationdosage is directed against theentire length of material so wound.However, for those situations where the wound portions of the coilformation 61 which are closer to the core of center thereof aresubjected to substantially higher dosages of'radiation which may be ofsuch a nature as to degrade same in order to provide sufficientradiation against the outer turns of the coil formation to effect apredetermined change inthe characteristics of the material thereof, oneor both of two radiation variables may be predetenninately changedduring a winding cycle so as to expose the complete'length of woundmaterial to substantially the same degree or to reduce the amount ofdosage to which the first wound portions of material are exposed so asnot to degrade same. To effect such a process, the intensity ofradiabeing wound. In lieu of shifting the attitude of the source ofradiation, the winding coil itself may be predeterminatelyshifted inlocation .with' respect thereto during a winding cycle to providepredetermined changes in the physical characteristics of the entirelength of material being wound.

As an example of the radiation dosage required to effect cross linkingof a suitable polymeric material applicable to improving material whichis fabricated, and processed by means of the type hereinbeforedescribed,

.it is noted that a Van DeGraff electron accelerator manufactured by theHigh Voltage Engineering Company of Burlington, Massachusetts, andcapable of generating beam energy having an output of 2,000,000 volts ata power output of 500 watts may be utilized in locations with its outputbeing a foot or less from the surface of the plastic materials describedto effect suitable .cross linking of such plastics as polyethylene,polypropylene and other polyethers. Polyethylene, for example, having amelt index of 1.8 and a molecular weight of about.20,000 may be improvedin its adhesion and heat sealing characteristics by exposure with highparticle energy generated by a Van DeGraff generator of the type definedabove for periods of 1 minute or more and said exposure may be effectedby means of a single source of radiation disposed and operative asillustrated in the drawings to simultaneously irradiate differentportions of loops of said material wound or guided back and forththrough the field of radiation. Exposure to the direct beam of radiationof such a generator or, a corona discharge device may also be operativeto affect the surface of the sheet material moving through the field insuch a manner as to increase its ability to retain and adhere anadhesive such as the described pressure-sensitive adhesive applied tothe sheet material after being so processed. Exposure of polyethylene,for example, to electrical energy in the order of 10,000 to 30,000 wattseconds per square foot for a period of 10 to 30 secondswillsubstantially increase the adhesion of polyethylene and polyvinylchloride to each other whereby one of the two materials may be utilizedas the reinforcing member or members or to reinforcing material such asglass provided as filaments or fibers for reinforcing purposes asdescribed.

In a modified form of the invention the apparatus of FIGS. l-3 may bemodified to cause the feeding of a plastic monomer. or combination ofmonomer and other material or materials between the outer sheets ormaterials 16, 17 and 54, 56 which monomer is thereafter polymerized bythe action of the high energy radiation intersecting the compositematerial as described so as to form a strong bond thereof between theouter materials. Similarly, either or both of the outer sheets or layersof the compsoite material may be formed by extruding, coating orspraying a plastic monomer or monomers to cover and/or impregnate thecore materials113 and 52 whereafter said monomer is polymerized in situonor within the core or central material by the action of the radiationR dosing the composite material.

The polymerized in situ materials so defined above maybefurther treatedby radiation of such an intensity along the path of travel. of thecomposite to effect its cross linking after or during the act ofpolymerizing same.

If any of the described extruding materials have either or both theirsurfaces coated with a monomer of pass through vaporous atmospherescontaining monomer material, it may be deposited and polymerized in situthereon by the action of suitable radiation means such as glow dischargemeans, intense atomic radiation, intense laser light, electron beams orthe like.

Also, combinations of the actions of intense pressure applied to thecomposite by the rolling means and the radiation applied thereto maycooperate to polymerize and/or cross link monomeric material fed andapplied as described.

In another form of the invention, it is noted that the radiationgenerating means 69 of FIG. 2 may be operative to generate a pluralityof separate beams of radiation adapted to scan spaced apart band areasof cross linkable material fed therepast as described in such a manneras to effect the crosslinking of only said band areas of material.Single sheet film or composites of materials including such polymers aslow or medium density polyethylene or other suitable polymers may thusbe radiation treated so that parallel strip portions of the sheet orcomposite are more rigid and greater in tensile strength than moreflexible portions therebetween thus providing a flexible material whichis rein forced by cross linked portions forming the same sheet. Suitablemasking between the radiation source and the sheet may also be utilizedto permit the radiation of only selected areas of the fed sheet materialsuch as spot, net-like or other areas thereof.

In FIG. 4 is shown structural details of a composite sheet material 61produced, for example, by means of the apparatus of FIG. 2. The sheet 61is comprised of layers or strata 54' and 56 of the same or differentpolymers which are integrally bonded or welded together to form aunitary sheet having embedded therein a multitude of filaments 52 or anetting provided and constructed as hereinabove described. In passingthrough the joining or roll bonding means 59 and 60, the material ofsheets 59 and 56 are caused to flow over and around the filaments ornetting 52 so asto completely surround same and form a voidlesscomposite structure 61 as illustrated. Either or both rolls 59 and 60may have operatingsurfaces which emboss suitable patterns such asirregular roughened indentations, serrations or otherwise shaped regularor irregular patterns 61" operative to improve the adhesion and holdingability of the surface of the tape and the adhesive layer or layers 75disposed thereon as described. Surface treatment may also be effected byapplying a suitable flame, corona electrical discharge, electron beam orother suitable radiation beam discharge or powered brushing elementsagainst the surface of the composite material 61 prior to or after theformation thereof as described.

Modified forms of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 may includevacuum or pressure forming machinery having dies or molds disposed andoperable to receive either or both the freshly extruded sheets 16, 17 or54, 56 and to form indentations therein as they are fed to provideblister-like three dimensional packaging thereof when the indentationsare filled with product material and the non-deformed portions sur-,

rounding the indentations are sealed together as described. Such amodification to FIG. 1 of the drawings in shown in FIG. 5 wherein apressure forming machine 80 is provided beneath the extruder 14 andincludes a female die assembly 81 and a male die assembly 82 whichassemblies cooperate in intermittently deforming the extruding sheet 16to form said indentations, denoted D, therein prior to feeding the sheet16 to the sheet 17 to have the portions thereof so deformed filled withsaid product material.

I claim:

1. Package forming apparatus comprising:

first extrusion means for extrusion forming a first sheet of plastic,second extrusion means for extrusion forming a second sheet of plastic,

third and fourth means for respectively downwardly guiding and carryingsaid first and second sheets from said first and second extrusion means,said third means being operable to bring said first and second sheetstogether while vertically disposed,

fifth means for forming predetermined portions of the length of saidfirst and second sheet materials into containers,

sixth means including a dispensing head disposed between third andfourth means for downwardly conveying predetermined quantities ofmaterial to be packaged between said first and second sheets as they arebrought together and formed into containers and dispensing each of saidpredetermined quantities of material into respective of the containersas they are formed, and

seventh means for sealing said material into the containers intowwhichit is dispensed.

2. Package forming apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein saidfifth means includes respective cooperating dies disposed on oppositesides of said first and second sheets for engaging and longitudinallyside seaming said sheets to form a tube thereof and a further die meansoperable for intermittently forming a lateral seal between said sheetsto form pockets thereof, and means for intermittently operating saidsixth means in cooperation with the operation of said further die todispense predetermined quantities of said material into the pocketsformed of said sheets before the pockets are closed, and means operableto cause each filled pocket to be closed after it has received itscontents from said fifth means.

3. Package forming apparatus in accordance with claim 2 includingradiation generating means disposed to irradiate the seals formed bysaid cooperating dies and said further die means, said radiation meansbeing of sufficient intensity to improve the characteristics of saidseals formed by said first, second and further die means.

4. Package forming apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including meansfor permanently deforming said first sheet, as it is fed, withindentations therein defining retainers for a product, said sixth meansincluding means for dispensing predetermined quantities of said materialinto the volumes defined by said indentations, means for abutting saidsecond sheet with portions of said first sheet adjacent saidindentations as both sheets are fed and sealing the abutted portions toclose off the contents within said volumes defined by said indentationsin said first sheet.

5. Package forming apparatus in accordance with claim 4 including meansoperable after said abutted portions of said sheets are sealed forsevering individual portions thereof containing respective quantities ofsaid material disposed in the indentations formed in said first sheet.

6. Package forming apparatus in accordance with claim 4 including meansfor permanently deforming said second sheet with indentations andaligning same with the indentations formed in said first sheet prior tothe sealing operation so as to form separate volumes defined by thewalls of the indentations in said first and second sheets.

7. Package forming apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including meansfor irradiating the containers and and the material dispensed into eachwith radiation of sufficient intensity and for a sufficient period oftime to physically change the characteristics of the first and secondsheet materials.

8. Package forming apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including meansfor generating and directing radiation of sufficient intensity and forsufficient time to both change the physical characteristics of the firstsheets.

1. Package forming apparatus comprising: first extrusion means forextrusion forming a first sheet of plastic, second extrusion means forextrusion forming a second sheet of plastic, third and fourth means forrespectively downwardly guiding and carrying said first and secondsheets from said first and second extrusion means, said third meansbeing operable to bring said first and second sheets together whilevertically disposed, fifth means for forming predetermined portions ofthe length of said first and second sheet materials into containers,sixth means including a dispensing head disposed between third andfourth means for downwardly conveying predetermined quantities ofmaterial to be packaged between said first and second sheets as they arebrought together and formed into containers and dispensing each of saidpredetermined quantities of material into respective of the containersas they are formed, and seventh means for sealing said material into thecontainers into which it is dispensed.
 2. Package forming apparatus inaccordance with claim 1 wherein said fifth means includes respectivecooperating dies disposed on opposite sides of said first and secondsheets for engaging and longitudinally side seaming said sheets to forma tube thereof and a further die means operable for intermittentlyforming a lateral seal between said sheets to form pockets thereof, andmeans for intermittently operating said sixth means in cooperation withthe operation of said further die to dispense predetermined quantitiesof said material into the pockets formed of said sheets before thepockets are closed, and means operable to cause each filled pocket to beclosed after it has received its contents from said fifth means. 3.Package forming apparatus in accordance with claim 2 including radiationgenerating means disposed to irradiate the seals formed by saidcooperating dies and said further die means, said radiation means beingof sufficient intensity to improve the characteristics of said sealsformed by said first, second and further die means.
 4. Package formingapparatus in accordance with claim 1 including means for permanentlydeforming said first sheet, as it is fed, with indentations thereindefining retainers for a product, said sixth means including means fordispensing predetermined quantities of said material into the volumesdefined by said indentations, means for abutting said second sheet withportions of said first sheet adjacent said indentations as both sheetsare fed and sealing the abutted portions to close off the contentswithin said volumes defined by said indentations in said first sheet. 5.Package forming apparatus in accordance with claim 4 including meansoperable after said abutted portions of said sheets are sealed forsevering individual portions thereof containing respective quantities ofsaid material disposed in the indentations formed in said first sheet.6. Package forming apparatus in accordance with claim 4 including meansfor permanently deforming said second sheet with indentations andaligning same with the indentations formed in said first sheet prior tothe sealing operation so as to form separate volumes defined by thewalls of the indentations in said first and second sheets.
 7. Packageforming apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including means forirradiating the containers and and the material dispensed into each withradiation of sufficient intensity and for a sufficient period of time tophysically change the characteristics of the first and second sheetmaterials.
 8. Package forming apparatus in accordance with claim 1including means for generating and directing radiation of sufficientintensity and for sufficient time to both change the physicalcharacteristics of the first and second sheet materials and to sterilizethe material dispensed into each container.
 9. A package formingapparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said third and fourth meanscomprise respective endless conveying means each located and operable tosupport a respective one of said sheets and to downwardly convey saidsheets towards each other, said sixth means having a dispensing headlocated between and adjacent to said first and second sheets just abovewhere they converge for dispensing said predetermined quantities ofmaterial between said two sheets.